Francisco ROBAYO GUERRA

Francisco Javier Robayo Guerra, known as Javier Robayo, is an Ecuadorian conservationist, naturalist, and educator whose work has transformed biodiversity protection in the Tropical Andes. He is currently President of Fundación EcoMinga and of CEDENMA, the national coordinating body of Ecuador’s environmental NGOs. Over the past two decades, he has led more than 200 research, biology, and teaching expeditions throughout Ecuador, working with local communities, students, and international scientists. His collaborative fieldwork has resulted in extraordinary scientific discoveries, including more than ten species of orchids, a new genus of rodents containing two species, a new frog genus, and at least five additional amphibian species. His expertise spans ornithology, botany, and tropical biodiversity, and his leadership has been central to the creation and expansion of private reserves managed by EcoMinga, securing habitat for endangered species such as the Black-and-chestnut Eagle, the Mountain Tapir, and multiple critically endangered amphibians. In 2022, The Explorers Club recognized him as one of “50 People Changing the World.” Beyond his scientific achievements, he is deeply committed to fostering the next generation of conservationists, teaching, mentoring, and working with communities living near protected areas to strengthen the connection between biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods. Today, through Fundación EcoMinga, CEDENMA, and international partnerships, he continues to expand conservation frontiers in Ecuador, combining rigorous science with community participation to safeguard irreplaceable ecosystems for future generations.